2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Championship

Behind the Wall Championship

By Richard Tix

One last race... March has long been over, but the March Madness Bracket wraps up this weekend at Bristol. What a better place to finish out the five race tournament then going to a NASCAR short track classic. We started with 32 drivers and we are down to two, check out the matchup below.

Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on. We are going by regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race.
• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
1	Keselowski		1	Keselowski		1	Larson
3	Bowyer		1	Larson		1	Elliott

Bracket Notes: 

Last week at Texas our Final Four gave us some great runs. All four drivers finished in the top 11 and they all finished top 12 in race points (including the stage points). So, no one had an easy run to the Championship at Bristol this week. In the end, the cream of the crop (or cream of 2017) rose to the top and will face off at BMS. Larson and Keselowski have arguably the best drivers early on this season which might give us our most competitive Championship ever.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2017
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Clint Bowyer
• 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
• 2nd: Kyle Busch
• Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano
• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch

2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Final Four

Behind the Wall Final Four

By Richard Tix

The NCAA Basketball season maybe over (Heck yeah North Carolina!), but the March Madness NASCAR Style continues to roll on for two more races. After fighting for every spot at Martinsville last week, the Final Four will head to Texas this weekend. Check out who advanced below.

Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on. We are going by regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race.
• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
1	Keselowski								1	Larson
6	Dillon								3	McMurray
			1	Keselowski		1	Larson
			3	Bowyer		1	Elliott
5	Jones								1	Elliott
3	Bowyer								2	Blaney

Bracket Notes:

Larson lucked out on a poor run when his teammate gambled early with a tire rub. Larson will get a chance to bounce back at Texas. Two other No. 1 seeds will join No. 1 seed Larson in the Final Four so hopefully you picked "chalk" in your bracket. On the flip side of Larson getting lucky, Dillon was unlucky in a great run spoiled by Keselowski winning Martinsville.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
• 2nd: Kyle Busch
• Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano
• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch

2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Elite Eight

Behind the Wall Elite Eight

By Richard Tix

The rounds and drivers are dwindling as we head to Martinsville Speedway to set up the last three races in the 2017 NBTW Bracket. Auto Club Speedway took us from 16 to 8 and now we get to see who wants a spot in the Final Four at Texas. Check out who goes head to head at Martinsville below.

Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on. We are going by regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race.
• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.

Round by Round Articles:

• Opening Round: Round of 32
• Sweet 16

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
1	Keselowski								1	Larson
5	Newman								5	Johnson
			1	Keselowski		1	Larson
			6	Dillon		3	McMurray
6	Dillon								3	McMurray
2	Harvick								7	Earnhardt Jr
8	Stenhouse Jr								1	Elliott
5	Jones								5	Busch
			5	Jones		1	Elliott
			3	Bowyer		2	Blaney
3	Bowyer								3	Bayne
7	Suarez								2	Blaney

Bracket Notes:

After Auto Club speedway we still have three of the four number one seeds remaining. Early it looked like Ryan Newman would take down Brad Keselowski when BK spun out, but he came back strong and finished 2nd to overcome Newman. The young guns continue to stay hot as Larson, Elliott, Jones, Dillon, and Blaney all move onto the Elite Eight. Only Keselowski, McMurray, and Bowyer are left standing of the Cup veterans. 

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
• 2nd: Kyle Busch
• Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano
• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch

2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Round of 32

Behind the Wall Opening Round of 32

By Richard Tix

Can you believe it, it's year five of this silly NASCAR style March Madness bracket? It all started with my love of NASCAR and college basketball and the fact that March -- Spring -- is a wonderful time in sports. The NASCAR season is kicking off and college basketball gives us one of the best weekends in sports, hands down I won't even debate this. The opening weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is one of the best times of the year bringing exciting basketball and the unpredictability to us all on a national level so its always fun to bring that into the NASCAR world. So, check out the rules and how it was all broken down below. Then check out the bracket for the 2017 Tournament and lastly you can look back at the past champions of this Behind the Wall tournament.

Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on. We are going by regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race.

• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
Full RCR Division			Loaded Division
1	Brad Keselowski		1	Kyle Larson
8	Chris Buescher		8	David Ragan
4	Paul Menard		4	Denny Hamlin
5	Ryan Newman		5	Jimmie Johnson
3	Kasey Kahne		3	Jamie McMurray
6	Austin Dillon		6	Ty Dillon
2	Kevin Harvick		2	Kurt Busch
7	Cole Whitt		7	Dale Earnhardt Jr
Double Jr. Division			Young Guns Division
1	Martin Truex Jr		1	Chase Elliott
8	Ricky Stenhouse Jr		8	Danica Patrick
4	Matt Kenseth		4	Aric Almirola
5	Erik Jones		5	Kyle Busch
3	Clint Bowyer		3	Trevor Bayne
6	Michael McDowell		6	Matt DiBenedetto
2	Joey Logano		2	Ryan Blaney
7	Daniel Suarez		7	Landon Cassill

Bracket Notes:

First thought when I looked at the bracket after seeding the drivers was, "Wow Kyle Larson's division is tough." Hamlin, Johnson, Ku Busch, Junior, and a red hot McMurray all in one division. Next I looked at who had favorable match-ups to get to the Elite Eight. Keselowski and Harvick are easy favorites in their bracket as are Logano and Truex in their's. The other two rae a bit more of a toss up with a mix of guys who have all either started strong or are typically strong and are off to slow starts.

So, who is your favorite to win? Team Penske has actually won this bracket challenge three of the four years that I have done it, which is crazy. Keselowski is a two time Champion. The leader for Final Four appearances is a tie at two: Keselowski, Edwards, Logano, Ky Busch, and Ku Busch.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
• 2nd: Kyle Busch
• Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano

• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch